the Canadians

I mentioned the Canadians are taking over HGTV.  Have you noticed how many shows are hosted by Canadians now?  There’s our beloved Sandra Rinomato from Property Virgins, Carter Osterhouse from Carter Can and Red Hot & Green, that guy (Scott McGillivray) from that stupid rental show (Income Property), of course Candace Olson from Divine Design (love her, but why does she always use quartz for her solid surface countertops?  I ponder things like this), and Sarah Richardson from Sarah’s House and Design, Inc.  Am I missing anyone?

Our neighbors to the North really are not so different from us in terms of design aesthetic, though I do crack up when I hear them pronounce the word “house” and see spellings like “favourite”.  I spent the better part of my son’s naptime the other day researching Sarah Richardson, as she is my current interior design hero.  I absolutely love watching Sarah’s House, a show in which she renovates a house room by room, each one being an episode of the show.

 

She’s a snappy dresser, too.

There have been two seasons of Sarah’s House so far:  one of which she renovates and creates an addition for a 100 year-old farmhouse and one in which she remodels a 60s era split-level (or back-split as the Canadians call it) house.  I can’t decide which one I like more.  The farmhouse has incredible character, a beautiful setting, and she’s managed to update it and make it functional without mitigating its charm in any way.  Click here for a slideshow of photos and inspiration from the farmhouse. 

And the 60s home retains its ranch-style cool while gaining light and a functional basement with a gorgeous laundry room, storage and guest suite.  Here’s an image from the guest bedroom.  I really love the green, black and white color (colour?) scheme.

See more images here.

Here’s a bathroom from the portfolio on her website.  This project is known as the “Hilltop Contemporary”.  Sounds like my perfect dwelling.

Isn’t that marble penny-round tile incredible?

Sarah’s style is practical, innovative and pretty.  She reminds me a little bit of Mary Poppins.  And I love her side-kick, Tommy.  Would he be the shorter version of Bert to her Mary P?  hmmmmmm.

 

Some other cool things about Sarah?  Well, she started her career as a prop stylist and set decorator.  That sounds like such a fun job.  She’s a mom of two daughters and has a solar-powered weekend home on an island.  Ummmm, SUPER COOL. 

AND, from checking out her website, it looks like there will be a new show called Sarah’s Cottage chronicling her work on the off-the-grid house.  I can’t wait.  HGTV, you better bring it to me.

+++All photos courtesy of HGTV.com and SarahRichardsonDesign.com+++

Announcement

Little miss Kristen over at Hoot Design helped us finally (formally) announce the birth of our son in a very special way.  Thanks, Kristen- you’re the coolest!  Check out her amazing work here.  Or, if you’re one of my 10 loyal readers, you’re probably going to receive this in the mail anyway!

I promise I’ll be back with more on the Canadians.  I promise!

Let’s talk TV

HGTV that is.  I think I first became obsessed with HGTV when Trading Spaces was in its heyday, what, like 10 years ago?  My how time flies.  My mom asked me the other day whatever happened to some of those designers.  Well, the great ones (Vern Yip and Genevieve Gorder) still have shows on HGTV and are still my favorites, style-wise.  And a little known fact about the Babbler?  I actually met Paige Davis, the host of Trading Spaces,

 

a few years ago when I was living in Austin.  I spotted her one morning at Austin Java when I stopped for coffee on my way to work.  She was sitting at a table with her parents and I got all starstruck but had to make sure it was really and truly her, so I went up and asked and proceeded to gush about how great I think she is (like the dork that I am).  Good thing my husband wasn't with me- he would have been completely mortified.  I also met The Bachelor (the Austin-version) on another occasion, in another Austin Java, but that's another story.

Back to HGTV.  Currently, I'm obsessed with a couple of shows on the network.  Home on maternity leave, I'll admit there's occasionally some background t.v. on while I nurse.  Here's where Dr. Jay would interject with "Occasionally?  Try 24/7", but I ignore him because I know HGTV is quality programming and I feel it's part of my job to stay current with design and real estate.  My t.v. watching has actually decreased dramatically lately since our little man has become much more aware of that bright picture box, and the American Academy of Pediatrics says that is a major no-no.  Really, back to HGTV.  I love Curb Appeal: The Block, hosted by John Gidding.  And it's not just because he's another pretty face.

First of all, he's a real for sure architect.  I was skeptical at first, thinking HGTV might be trying to pull one over on us, so I checked him out and though he is a former model (okay, if you want to see something really funny, go here- really, that is John Gidding), he's also a Harvard GSD graduate.  If you watch the show (or another show he does with HGTV- Designed to Sell) you'll see he's a very talented designer.  I just love the concept of Curb Appeal: The Block because they work to upgrade the curb appeal of not just one home, but a few on the street to improve not only area property values but also foster a sense of community and value to a neighborhood.  It's such a design school trope, but the team really seems to pull it off and the results are never the "quick fix" as are so many of the design show solutions.  Check out this slideshow of neighborhood makeovers.  Here’s a before and after.

             

What an incredible transformation from bland to “Come on over and party, friends”.  And there’s a yellow front door, which we all know I heart.

John seems like such a down-to-earth guy.  AND, all his projects take place in Atlanta-area neighborhoods (shout out for the ATL) so it's fun to see some of the places I'm familiar with, and some neighborhoods I'd like to explore.  If I ever ran into John Gidding in Atlanta I would freak out.  Seriously, like an eight year old girl probably does when she sees Justin Bieber.  Who the heck is Justin Bieber?  I have no idea, but I know people go crazy for him.

Next post... the Canadians are taking over HGTV.  Stay tuned.

Don’t get excited

But somehow I’m pulling off a blog post today. I’m determined. I can’t say this will happen regularly (still working on this whole “schedule” with a baby) but I’d like it to happen at least once in a blue moon.

Yes, we had our beautiful baby boy in early August. He’s a joy and a handful and Dr. Jay doesn’t want me to mix baby and blog so I won’t say much other than we love our family and it keeps us B-U-S-Y. I don’t really have to spell things out around here yet, just practicin’.

What got me on the blog today, besides a baby napping in his crib (!!!!!!) and not on me for once? Well, trolling around on the interweb, I read through my first online magazine. I am so incredibly impressed by Southern Flourish. And inspired. I don’t own a Kindle or an iPad, and frankly thought reading a magazine online could never be fun, but I was so so wrong. It’s so easy to page through and the images are crisp and clear. I also love that it’s free to look through a magazine like Southern Flourish and that they feature up-and-coming designers (all Southerners, I believe) who I’d probably never hear about otherwise. I read about it over on Young House Love, bloggers who are featured with a “Day in the Life Of” article that the magazine (is there a term for online magazine that I don’t know about?) seems to do regularly. I enjoyed reading about the days of a few other interesting Southerners.

In short (cause I have to be short these days) if you’ve never flipped through an online magazine, now’s the time. It’ll change your life. Well, that’s probably an overstatement, but I bet it will change your attitude about online magazine reading.

Southern Flourish, are you looking for any new writers?

Cue the baby waking up.